Vehicle tire



Jan. 3, 192a.

' J. J. WOLFROM VEHICLE TIRE Filed June 1, 1925 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES JONES J. WOLFROM, oFrLINT, MICHIGAN.

. vnHIcLE TIRE.-

Application filed June 1, 1925. I Serial No. 33,888.

My invention relates tov a new and useful improvement in a vehicle tire, adapted for use with a special construction of run, and has tor its object, the provision of a ve hlcle tire, adapted tor mounting on a sectional rim. 1

Another object of the invention is th provision of a tire having a plurality of inflated rubber balls, or elastic pneumatic containers mounted within a metallic casing, s0 arranged and constructed as to permit the radial movement within certain limits of the casing relatively'to the telly ot the wheel.

Another obj ect ot the invention is the provision of a special retaining member adapted tor retaining the metallic casing on the telly ot the wheel and at the same time, for permitting its radial movement relatively to the telly. 3 i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a metallic casing, adapted tor the reception ot a plurality of inflated rubber balls, provided with means tor preventing circumferential movement ot' the rubber balls in the casing beyond a certain limit.

Another object ot the invention'is the pro-' vision of a metallic casing having retaining means on its periphery, for engaging and holding in secure position a tread member. j

()ther objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying draw ings, which torm a part ot this specification and in which, 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewot the invention, with a part broken away, showing parts in section,

Fig. 2 is a sectional, view taken 011 substan tially line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 isa side elevational view of the rim used in the invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the tread member,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged tragmentary sectional view of one of the rubber balls used in the invention, illustrating the method of i'i'iounting the valve thereon.

As shown in the drawings, the invention is adapted tor use with a vehicle wheel 9 having a telly 10, secured to which are retaining lugs 11 mounted on bolts 12, provided with nuts 18, the bolts being projected through the telly 10. The lugs 11 are adapted to engage a neck or projection formed onthe rim 14. As clearly seen in Fig. 3, this rim.14 is made trom a plurality 01 sections 36 and 36, which are hingedly connected together at 36". A cooperating pair of sections 87 and 37 hingedly connected together at 37 is provided, the meeting ends of the two pairs 0t sections being cut in an oflset. as shown. As shown in Fig. 2, the rim 14 is provided, at opposite sides with recesses 15, in which are adapted to engage the inner edges of locking members 38, which are preterably made from rubber, or other flexible-material, the outer edge 38 of each of which is adapted to engage in a recess 18 formed in an enlarged portion along the edges of the metallic casing 17. Extendmg transversely ot the casing 17, so as to connect the sidewalls thereof and form a partition therein, are the partition torming members 20, which are spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 1. Mounted onthe periphery of the casing 17 and extending around its periphery, at opposite sides, are keepers 21 and 21, which are spaced apart at their free ends to provide a channel tor the reception of the flanges 28 and 23, which project from the opposite edges of a rubber tread member 22. Extending throughout the length of the tread member 22 are metallic re' mtorcing plates 24 and 24'. This tread member is termed in sections, a plurality of the sections being necessary to cover the periphery ot the casing 17. Projected through the metallic members 24 and 24 and through the casing 17, are bolts 25, which carry nuts, adaptedtor engaging in the recesses "26 and 26 formed in the tread member 22. As shown in Fig. 4, recesses 27 and 27 are provided, adjacent one end ot each section of the tread member 22, each ot these recesses termmatmg in an elongated opening 28 and 28 respectively, for the reception ot the bolts 25, the openings leading into the recesses 26 and 26 being adapted tor a snug lit ot the bolts 25. In mounting the tread 22 upon the casing 17, the flanges 23 and 23 are brought into close approach to each other and inserted in the channels tormed by the keepers 21 and 21 and the casing 17. To permit the inward flexing ot the flanges 23 and 23, the tread member 22 isprovided on its inner surface with a slot 22. Positioned in the casing 17, between the partitions 20, so as to have slight play between the partitions 20, are inflated rubber balls 29. These balls comprise an outer casing '29, which is made from rubber and within which is positioned a rubber ball 30, carrylnga valve stem 31, projecting thereinto, "said valve stem being mounted on the ball 30 in any desirable well known manner. The head of the stem 31 is provided with a peripheral groove 82, adapted for engaging the'resilient wire 33 which is positioned in an opening formed in the plug 34, which is threaded into the metallic ring 35 mounted upon the ball casing 29, the plug '34 being provided with a diametrically extending groove 3 i in'which a screw driver, or other like tool may be engaged, for removing the plug from its'mounti s.

In 'operatlon, when the casing 17is mounted upon the rim 14, and the inflated balls 29 are placed therein, the pressure 01 the vehicle upon the tire will compress, to a certain extentfthe balls 29 and have a tendency to move the balls circum'lerentially of the casing 17. This circun'iterential movement, of course, will be limited by the partitions20. As the load is placed upon the tire, the casing 17 is permitted to move radially inwardly of the wheel, the retaining strips 38 being sufficiently flexible to permit this movement. As shown in Fig. 2, the extreme inner edges or the retaining strips 38 are angularly turned, and seated in the recess 15, suitable keepers 38 being provided to engagethis angularly turned edge to retain it in position in the recess 15. Asshowir in Fig. 2, shoulders 16 are provided on the inner surface of the rim 14, which serve toengage the retaining strips 38 and prevent their-outward moven'ient to too great an extent to make the device operative. The singularly turned edges 38 areslidably positioned the recesses 18, the arrangement being sutlicien't to permit the movement of thevarious parts, to accomplish the desired result, the straps S8 preventing entry of dust into the casing.

lVhen it is desired to remove one of the balls, one oi the sections of the rim nay be moved relativel to its other sections to perm t the removal of the casing 17.

Virth ajtire and co-operating rim constructed in this manner, I have provided a the which 'has all of the advantages of the ordinary pneumatic tire, and at the same 'time,'is free from any of its undesirable featransversely extending partitions mounted therein; a plurality o1 inflated ballsmounted insaid casing, intern'iediate said partitions, the edges of said casing being provided *with slots; a rim adapted for carrying said casing; flexible retaining members mounted on said rim and having one edge angularly turned, adapted for engagement inthe slots of said casing; and a tread member mounted onthe periphery of said casing.

2. A device of the class described comprisingza metallic casing having themargmal edges thereof sli 'htiy enlarged and each provided with a circuiiiiterentially ex tending slot; transversely extending 'partitron walls mounted insaid casing and connecting the opposite walls thereof; a rim adapted for mounting on a wheel; resilient keepers secured at one edge to said rim and having the opposite edge angu larly turned and adapted for engagement in said slots in said edges of said casing-; a, 1; l-urality of rubber balls mounted in said casing intermediate said .partitionsadapted for-engaging said rim, said balls resisting inward radial movement of said casing.

In testimony whereof, I have foregoing specification.

JONES J. WOLFROM.

signed the 

